Improvement in sewing-machine attachments



UNITED STATES JOSEPH W. ROBARDS, OF RICHMOND, VIRGINIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN SEWING-MACHINE ATTACHMENTS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 155,976, dated October 13, 1874 application filed September 23, 1874.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J osnrn W. ROBARDS, of Richmond, in the county of Henrico and in the State of Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sewing- Machine Attachments and do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings and to the letters of reference marked thereon, making a part of this specification.

The nature of my invention consists in the construction and arrangement of a sewingmachine attachment or hemmer having an adjustable gage or guide for making differentwidth hems without basting, and it may be also used as a trimmer for putting on different widths of braid or any flat trimming with ease and regularity, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

In order to enable others skilled in the art to which my invention appertains to make and use the same, I will now proceed to describe its construction and operation, referring to,

the annexed drawing, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of my entire sewing-machine attachment. Figs. 2 and 3 are detached views of the parts thereof.

A represents an L-shaped arm of suitable dimensions. One end of this arm is shaped so as to straddle the upper end of the presserfoot or presserfoot hemmer, and be fastened by the same screw that fastens the hemmer or presser-foot to the presser-foot bar. The arm A extends outward from the presser-foot bar at right angles with the line of the seam, and then extends toward the front parallel with the line of the seam. The front end of the arm A is made thicker, as shown, and in this portion is made a horizontal mortise, a. B represents a plate of suitable dimensions provided with a longitudinal slot, b, running from the outer to near the inner end of the plate, dividing the same into two prongs, B and B The prong B fits in and passes through the mortise a in the front end of the arm A, and the prong B is held against the 1 under side of said arm by a catch, 0?, attached thereto; or the enlargement of the arm may extend sufficiently far to the rear to admit of two mortises being made-one for each prong of the plate.

The upper surface of the prong B is graduated, as shown, and in the inner end of the same is a slot, 1), extending longitudinally for a suitable distance.

The inner end of the plate B is formed with a forward-extending arm, 13, the outer edge i of which runs parallel with the line of the seam.

The arm A being fastened alongside of the hemmer to the presser-foot bar, as above described, the plate Bis adjusted in said arm according to the width of the hem desired, and held by means of the set-screw c. The fabric is then laid under the plate B and passed around the edge z" of its arm B on top of the plate, and the edge of the goods inserted in' the hemmer in the usual manner. The arm B holds the hem the same width throughout.

With this adjustable gage or guide hems ofany width may be made.

The same attachment may be used as a trimmer for putting on different widths of braid, as follows: A slide, D, is passed over the prongs of the plate B, and said prongs are then passed through the front end of the arm A, as above described. The attachment is then used with the ordinary presserfoot and fastened with the same screw. The gageplate B is then adjusted to the width of the braid or trimming to be sewed on, and fastened by the set-screw e. The braid is then passed through the slots 1) and b in the man ner shown in Fig. 1, which will give sufficient tension to enable the operator to sew the braid on smooth and regular without holding it tigh with the hand.

The slide D is close to the arm A, between it and the trimming to be sewed 011, both edges of the trimming thus having guides to keep it straight without being ,held by the hand, and it is sewed on properly without the trouble of basting.

When my attachment is used with a hemmer the slide D is either removed entirely or placed on the prongs 13 13 to the left of the arm A, and then forms a support for the prongs.

PATENT OFFICE.

1 Having thus fully described my invention, In testimony that I claim the foregoing I what I claim as new, and desire to secure byhave hereunto set my hand this 2d day of Letters Patent, is September, 1874.

The combination of the L-shaped arm A, provided with the mortise a and catch (1, the JOSEPH WATKINS ROBARDS.

slotted plate B, provided with the arm B prongs B B and slot 1), and the slide D, all Witnesses: substantially as and for the purposes herein W. W. CALDWELL, set forth. D. W. BEHRENs. 

